The Cyanometer: measuring color the Antique way

The Cyanometer is a magical yet simple instrument for measuring ‘blueness‘, not the feeling but specifically the colour intensity of blue sky. A Cyanometer consists of squares of paper dyed in graduated shades of blue and arranged in a color circle or square that can be held up and compared to the color of the sky. It helped lead to a successful conclusion that the blueness of the sky is a measure of transparency caused by the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere.

(Horace-Bénédict de Saussure’s cyanometer, 1760)
For a modern day meter Continue reading →

Catalina Landseaire Boat Yachts

This image caught our eye the other day. The airplane turned out to be a Catalina ‘Landseaire’ Boat Yacht from the 1950s. When you click the link you’ll find out that airplanes were used and promoted in a very different way than today. Make sure to clickety click! (vintagewings.ca)One of the finest selling features of the Convair PBY Landseaire was no doubt the observation blisters. Not since the airship Hindenburg did passengers enjoy such a remarkable view of the world around them. Photo: Loomis Dean, LIFE Magazine